The Old Dominion

Virginia

Shenandoah ridgelines, wild ponies in highland meadows, and 500 miles of the Appalachian Trail.

1Forest Guide

8Trail Guides

1.8MAcres Covered

5,729 ftHighest Peak

Virginia at a Glance

Triple Crown

Virginia's Triple Crown (McAfee Knob, Dragon's Tooth, Tinker Cliffs) is the most photographed section of the entire Appalachian Trail

Shenandoah Proximity

George Washington National Forest borders Shenandoah National Park, extending the ridge and valley hiking network across 1.1 million acres

AT Miles

Virginia has 544 miles of the Appalachian Trail, more than any other state, roughly a quarter of the entire trail

Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 217 miles through Virginia, connecting trailheads across two national forests

Wild Ponies

Grayson Highlands in Jefferson National Forest is home to free-roaming wild ponies at 5,000 ft elevation

Civil War Trails

Many Virginia forest trails follow routes used during the Civil War, with historic sites and battlefields along the way

When to Visit

Year-round access at most elevations. Spring (April through May) for wildflowers and waterfalls. October for peak fall color along the Blue Ridge. Summer is warm but manageable above 3,000 ft.

National Forests in Virginia

George Washington and Jefferson National Forests

1,790,000 acresApril through November

Complete guide to George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Virginia and West Virginia. Trail recommendations, campgrounds, McAfee Knob, Dragon's Tooth, and trip planning resources.

12 min read

Trails in Virginia

moderateout-and-back

Apple Orchard Falls

3.2 mi800 ft gain

VirginiaMarch through November

Guide to Apple Orchard Falls in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Virginia. A 3.2-mile out-and-back through a rhododendron and hemlock canyon to one of the tallest waterfalls in Virginia at 200 feet.

7 min read

moderateout-and-back

Chimney Rock Trail

4.4 mi1,200 ft gain

VirginiaApril through November

A 4.4-mile out-and-back to a dramatic quartzite pinnacle in the Goshen area of George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Virginia, with sweeping views down the Calfpasture River valley.

7 min read

moderateout-and-back

Crabtree Falls Trail

3.4 mi1,500 ft gain

VirginiaMarch through November

Guide to Crabtree Falls Trail in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi, a 3.4-mile out-and-back with five major cascades.

9 min read

moderate-hardout-and-back

Dragon's Tooth

4.6 mi1,600 ft gain

VirginiaMarch through November

Guide to Dragon's Tooth in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. A 4.6-mile out-and-back to Virginia's most dramatic rock scramble, featuring Class 3 climbing and a quartzite spire on the AT.

9 min read

moderateout-and-back

Humpback Rocks Trail

2 mi800 ft gain

VirginiaMarch through November

Guide to Humpback Rocks Trail in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. A short, steep 2-mile hike to panoramic Blue Ridge views near the Blue Ridge Parkway.

10 min read

moderateout-and-back

McAfee Knob

8.8 mi1,720 ft gain

VirginiaMarch through November

Guide to McAfee Knob in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The most photographed spot on the Appalachian Trail, an 8.8-mile out-and-back hike to an iconic rock ledge overlooking the Catawba Valley.

10 min read

moderate-hardout-and-back

Tinker Cliffs

10.5 mi2,100 ft gain

VirginiaMarch through November

Guide to Tinker Cliffs in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Virginia. A 10.5-mile out-and-back on the Appalachian Trail to a half-mile-long quartzite cliff band with sweeping views over the Roanoke and Catawba valleys.

7 min read

moderateout-and-back

Whitetop Mountain Trail

4.2 mi800 ft gain

VirginiaMay through October

A 4.2-mile out-and-back to the second-highest peak in Virginia via the Lewis Fork Trail in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, with above-treeline views into Tennessee and North Carolina.

6 min read

Did You Know?

McAfee Knob is the single most photographed spot on the entire 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail.

Virginia's AT section is so long that thru-hikers have a saying: 'Virginia is where dreams go to die' because it feels endless.

George Washington National Forest is named after the first president, who surveyed much of the land as a young man.

The wild ponies of Grayson Highlands are managed by letting hikers and visitors pet and interact with them, making it one of the friendliest wildlife encounters in the East.

Mount Rogers (5,729 ft) is the highest point in Virginia, but its summit is covered in dense spruce forest with no views. The best views are from the open meadows below it.